Pacific Symphony Orchestra

Summer in Newport calls for charity on the water. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra's Young Professionals support group, known as Overture, held its second Balboa Scavenger Hunt on the bay. The hunt on water began with a champagne reception fronted by co-chairs of the event Shana Fife and Chris Trela held in collaboration with the Balboa Performing Arts Theater. Five teams consisting of 40 participants then set out in electric boats, following clues to the great discovery. A major event sponsor was Lear-Baylor, creators of an electric vessel making its debut on the harbor this year.

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating basis. For information on adding your organization to this list, call (949) 574-4298. ORANGE COUNTY WORKS Participate in life management and employment training workshops as a success coach to foster teens 16 to 18 years old. (949) 509-1451. PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Orange County Pacific Symphony Orchestra's Volunteers in Education Opportunities program needs volunteers to assist children in a variety of hands-on musical activities.

B.W. COOK It was a celebration of music. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra held its 25th anniversary concert at Costa Mesa's Pacific Amphitheatre to present the world premiere of Peter Boyer's "On Music's Wings." The gala concert also featured John Alexander's singers, the All-American Boys Chorus of Costa Mesa, as well as a 120-voice, all-county, high school, honors chorus. If that wasn't enough, a 600-voice children's chorus performed along with the orchestra.

Pacific Chorale has announced its 2000-2001 season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with a plethora of musical artists including Musica Angelica, Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Bobby McFerrin. The four-concert season includes three performances with the 160-member chorale and a chamber performance with its 32-voice John Alexander Singers. The Pacific Chorale Children's Chorus also will be featured under the direction of Mary Ester Blakley. J.S. Bach's "Magnificat" will open the season at 7 p.m. Oct. 22. Alexander will conduct Musica Angelica and Pacific Chorale's John Alexander Singers in this program, which is called "Bach and Handel."

The Nottingham Knights Gala, chaired by Doug Simon and Kate Peters, attracted Robin Hood, Maid Marian and hundreds of O.C. citizens in support of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. It was an evening of music and merriment themed around a much-loved historical fantasy. The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine was transformed into Nottingham Castle, with troubadours, magicians, jesters and jugglers setting the mood. Some 450 guests attended, wearing either black tie or colorful period costumes.

Elia Powers Ben Vereen has a distinct style. It's elegant: black top hat, leather jacket and pressed slacks. The Ankh, a symbol of life that is associated with ancient Egypt, dangles from his ear. Vereen has a recognizable sound. His bass voice is soothing when he speaks in a whisper, and booming when he lets loose on stage. Vereen has an affable disposition, but he hardened for a moment when he heard a reporter misstate the title of his upcoming show.

B.W. COOK It was arguably the charity event of the spring in Orange County. The 25th-anniversary gala on May 22 honoring the Pacific Symphony attracted more than 500 patrons, raising more than $1 million. Glamorous guests paid at least $1,500 per couple to dine and dance at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, which was transformed by volunteers from a hotel ballroom into a Russian-inspired fantasy land. They called the event the "Festival of the White Nights."

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, perhaps the best known and loved piece of classical music ever written, is an ambitious undertaking for any orchestra for two main reasons. First, there’s the sheer scope of the work: It’s more than an hour long even at a moderate tempo and requires a full choir, large orchestra and four vocal soloists. Second, and perhaps even more daunting, is the fact that there have been countless great recordings of the piece by all of the world’s great orchestras and all classical music enthusiasts are familiar with it, which means that even solid efforts can have a hard time meeting expectations.

Alex Coolman This season of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra marks the 10th anniversary of its musical director, Carl St.Clair. During his tenure, the organization has experienced tremendous success, with its presence on the national scene gaining credibility and definition, and its popularity at home steadily increasing. The 47-year-old conductor keeps up a packed schedule, shuttling back and forth between California and Europe, where he is the principal guest conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Orchestra.

Submit AFTER HOURS items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4268. A complete list is available at www.dailypilot.com. SPECIAL All-American Boys Chorus The All-American Boys Chorus will be conducting individual auditions for boys ages 8 to 10 throughout January. There will be a second audition held in September. The audition, scheduled to last about 30 minutes, will focus on an ear test in which staff members strike various notes on piano and ask the boys to sing them back.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, perhaps the best known and loved piece of classical music ever written, is an ambitious undertaking for any orchestra for two main reasons. First, there’s the sheer scope of the work: It’s more than an hour long even at a moderate tempo and requires a full choir, large orchestra and four vocal soloists. Second, and perhaps even more daunting, is the fact that there have been countless great recordings of the piece by all of the world’s great orchestras and all classical music enthusiasts are familiar with it, which means that even solid efforts can have a hard time meeting expectations.

Summer in Newport calls for charity on the water. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra's Young Professionals support group, known as Overture, held its second Balboa Scavenger Hunt on the bay. The hunt on water began with a champagne reception fronted by co-chairs of the event Shana Fife and Chris Trela held in collaboration with the Balboa Performing Arts Theater. Five teams consisting of 40 participants then set out in electric boats, following clues to the great discovery. A major event sponsor was Lear-Baylor, creators of an electric vessel making its debut on the harbor this year.

The Nottingham Knights Gala, chaired by Doug Simon and Kate Peters, attracted Robin Hood, Maid Marian and hundreds of O.C. citizens in support of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. It was an evening of music and merriment themed around a much-loved historical fantasy. The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine was transformed into Nottingham Castle, with troubadours, magicians, jesters and jugglers setting the mood. Some 450 guests attended, wearing either black tie or colorful period costumes.

Elia Powers Ben Vereen has a distinct style. It's elegant: black top hat, leather jacket and pressed slacks. The Ankh, a symbol of life that is associated with ancient Egypt, dangles from his ear. Vereen has a recognizable sound. His bass voice is soothing when he speaks in a whisper, and booming when he lets loose on stage. Vereen has an affable disposition, but he hardened for a moment when he heard a reporter misstate the title of his upcoming show.

B.W. COOK It was a celebration of music. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra held its 25th anniversary concert at Costa Mesa's Pacific Amphitheatre to present the world premiere of Peter Boyer's "On Music's Wings." The gala concert also featured John Alexander's singers, the All-American Boys Chorus of Costa Mesa, as well as a 120-voice, all-county, high school, honors chorus. If that wasn't enough, a 600-voice children's chorus performed along with the orchestra.

B.W. COOK It was arguably the charity event of the spring in Orange County. The 25th-anniversary gala on May 22 honoring the Pacific Symphony attracted more than 500 patrons, raising more than $1 million. Glamorous guests paid at least $1,500 per couple to dine and dance at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, which was transformed by volunteers from a hotel ballroom into a Russian-inspired fantasy land. They called the event the "Festival of the White Nights."

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating basis. For information on adding your organization to this list, call (949) 574-4298. ORANGE COUNTY WORKS Participate in life management and employment training workshops as a success coach to foster teens 16 to 18 years old. (949) 509-1451. PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Orange County Pacific Symphony Orchestra's Volunteers in Education Opportunities program needs volunteers to assist children in a variety of hands-on musical activities.

Submit AFTER HOURS items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4268. A complete list is available at www.dailypilot.com. SPECIAL All-American Boys Chorus The All-American Boys Chorus will be conducting individual auditions for boys ages 8 to 10 throughout January. There will be a second audition held in September. The audition, scheduled to last about 30 minutes, will focus on an ear test in which staff members strike various notes on piano and ask the boys to sing them back.

Submit AFTER HOURS items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4268. A complete list is available at o7 www.dailypilot.comf7 . SPECIAL FILM FEST The Newport Beach Film Festival will continue through Friday with nightly screenings, a weekend of free workshops, appearances by filmmakers, galas and more. Costs for events vary. (949) 253-2880 or o7 www.newportbeachfilmfest.

Pacific Chorale has announced its 2000-2001 season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with a plethora of musical artists including Musica Angelica, Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Bobby McFerrin. The four-concert season includes three performances with the 160-member chorale and a chamber performance with its 32-voice John Alexander Singers. The Pacific Chorale Children's Chorus also will be featured under the direction of Mary Ester Blakley. J.S. Bach's "Magnificat" will open the season at 7 p.m. Oct. 22. Alexander will conduct Musica Angelica and Pacific Chorale's John Alexander Singers in this program, which is called "Bach and Handel."